Travel – Everyday life - Repeat: Living Green at Home and Elsewhere

What I find unusual is that people get annoyed by somebody who cares about stuff. I don't want to feel bad for caring about people, for the environment, for living a green life and for believing in human equality. I’m obsessed with ethical social media. What is wrong with wanting to live in a fair world? Exactly. Nothing. Inclusiveness matters. When a human gets bullied, bad-mouthed or ignored, I stand up for them. It all goes in the same direction. I do the same for the planet. Nothing less, nothing more.

How do you feel about keyboard activists? Sustaining a green lifestyle means a permanent hunt for the latest info. It never ends. Before I buy something, I research what its impact on the environment and society at large is. I strive to do better, almost enjoying this constant state of imperfection. My ethical and eco-friendly lifestyle is a work in progress. It took me years of investigation, questioning, talks, thought, reflection, adjustments and modifications. It would be deceptive to pretend that it can happen overnight that a home and a life become green. Far from it.

The more I read about the importance of biodiversity, the use of pesticides in agriculture, and the impact microplastics have on our organisms and the environment, the less can I ignore the situation we are in. Who am I to disregard scientific facts? I am driven by a happy and positive idealism.

According to the UN, "Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow. People are experiencing the significant impacts of climate change, which include changing weather patterns, rising sea level, and more extreme weather events. The greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and continue to rise. They are now at their highest levels in history."

It is challenging to do better. I made up my mind, it feels easier to change. How do I live green in everyday life and elsewhere? Please read on. I'm a hypocrite, no doubt about it.

TravelChatSA: – 1000 reasons to visit South Africa

So far, I have written a few articles about South Africa, these all give you plenty of reasons to visit South Africa. There certainly so many more reasons to visit than the ones I give in my articles. The country has so much to offer. Tourists leave home in search of a wonderful place to get lost. No matter what you are searching for, South Africa is the place where you will probably find it. South Africa is such a beauty. There is so much to see, experience, learn, smell and taste. You find one thing, and you start dreaming of the next, and you can’t stop travelling through South Africa. You long for more.

TravelChatSA: – Travel Etiquette

It is a minefield. Every country unquestionably has its customs and set of rules.This chat is not about that.

Travel Greece. Day Trips to UNESCO World Heritage Sites near Athens

Greece in south-eastern Europe is a country with thousands of islands in the Mediterranean. There are innumerable ancient sites, all of which are silent and strong eyewitnesses of history and legendary myths. Have you visited Athens? If not, plan to go. Athens is not only the capital of the country but also the historical capital of Europe. It combines everything captivating about capital cities, plus the charm that only a town on the Mediterranean Sea offers. A variety of museums, engaging nightlife, vivid street art, a slow lifestyle, sunshine aplenty, wholesome food, beguiling history and ancient ruins.

Bring lots of time to get to know the town. Walk the Athens neighbourhoods of Monastiraki and Plaka, browse around Syntagma Square, visit the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Acropolis Museum, and the National Archaeological Museum, make your way up Lycabettus Hill, check out the Central Market, the National Gardens, the tower of the winds, and the ancient Greek Agora, and join a Guided Food Safari.

Days in Athens are long. Go for a sundowner at one of the town’s many cafes, have dinner at any number of tavernas or chic restaurants, and after that go and find some bar to listen to live music.

Once you visited all the sights and experienced the Athenian lifestyle and spent your days soaking in that eclectic atmosphere, make your way along the coast and into the countryside. There are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the proximity of Athens. The UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Places, e.g. regions/structures, buildings, become awarded a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their outstanding value, be it of either cultural, historical or scientific significance to the world and her citizens.

I created this guide to show you whether you’d need a car to get around, and for you to see what you can experience in one day. Use the guide to plan visits to places where ideas for Democracy, Philosophy, Theatre, Freedom of Expression and Speech developed. Learn about how emperor Nero’s vision became a reality hundreds of years later. Visit a place where schoolchildren to this day make use of ancient sports grounds. Find out which civilization inspired Homer’s writing. See where you can swim in a lake that has healing properties. Be surprised when you hear the origin of the name Aegean Sea and understand that even trivial blunders can have enormous consequences. Learn who encouraged ideals such as tolerance, compassion, and the rule of law. See which church is the archetype of all the classical Byzantine churches of southern Greece. Find out where to best go skiing in Greece.

You can also find info about visa requirements, how to get to Athens, tips for vegetarian dining in Athens, and where to sleep.

TravelChatSA: Apartment Style Travel in South Africa

We talk about Apartment Style Travel in South Africa on #travelchatSA. Come along to chat. Everyone is Welcome. The more the merrier. There are certainly thousands and thousands of rental options all over the world and lots of them in South Africa. What are we dreaming of as tourists, how can we respect locals, and where should we travel to next?

TravelChatSA: Apartment Style Travel in South Africa - Questions

TravelChatSA: Green South Africa -Travelling Green

South Africa is a country of exceptional beauty. Her people, her colours, her scents make her one of the most sublime places and travel destinations ever. One of South Africa’s most significant drawcards is her biodiversity. How phenomenal is it, that if you go on a road trip through the nine provinces of the country, you will travel through eight different biomes? These are various ecological life zones, that have the same geography and climate, and in which plants and wildlife form an ecosystem. It is of interest to all of us to preserve the abundance we have in this world.

TravelChatSA: – National Lighthouse Day – Lighthouses of South Africa

There are many situations ships fear when getting near land; ground contact, stranding, collision, dangerous reefs, unknown headlands and coasts. As far back as in ancient times lighthouses guided ships. With the construction of more and more lighthouse structures at the turn of the 17th-century, it became somewhat easier for ships to reach the safe harbour. Thousands and thousands of seafarers owe their lives to them. These days, more modern navigational equipment as radar and satellite-based navigation systems are used. They are surrounded by a particular atmosphere and are distinctive features on coastal landscapes worldwide.

Most lighthouses are so well-known landmarks and favoured photo opportunities, that tourists seek to visit them and would plan their travel itineraries accordingly. Some lighthouses can be visited, are exhibition spaces, or even offer coffee and cake at on-site cafés. The biggest drawcard is, of course, having a viewing platform. Who doesn't like a spectacular view? Lighthouses give us a sense of security; they serve as a guide and are an oasis of calmness. Lighthouses are inspiring, offering their help, expecting nothing in return. Lighthouse structures give every oceanside panorama a magical touch. We all know this feeling of looking at a lighthouse, calling to mind its long history, and promptly daydreaming of adventurous travel stories.

In the United States, lighthouses are celebrated on August 7, to commemorate the signing of the Act for the Establishment and support of Lighthouse, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers by the U.S. Congress in 1789. 200 years later, that same congress decided to designate August 7 as the National Lighthouse Day. Every year come 7th August South Africa also celebrates National Lighthouse Day. Come and join us on Twitter to chat about lighthouses of South Africa. Everyone is welcome. The more the merrier.

Let us talk about the "National Lighthouse Day – Lighthouses of South Africa" on #TravelChatSA.

Here you can already find the questions we are discussing during the chat.